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Interview: David Simms Interviews CJ Leede

 

CJ Leede is the author of Maeve Fly. 

Buy Maeve Fly: Bookshop.org

 

David: Maeve Fly is an amazingly cool novel. It seems to flirt with comparisons before veering off into its own happy world. It can’t be pigeon-holed, which is always a great thing to me. What was the inspiration for this debut? 

 

CJ: Oh man, thank you! Well, I was in a strange dark period in life, and I had just moved to LA and was regretting it, struggling with some grief and life things– you know, some time periods are just like that–and it was Covid, and it was pre-election, and everything just felt so ramped up and overwhelming. I didn’t really intend at first to do any of this, the initial idea was really just about Story of the Eye and whether a woman could retell it. What it would look like with a female protagonist. And then everything just spun out (very quickly!) from there. It’s kind of an annoying thing to say, but it was like a hatch in my skull opened, and it all just came to me suddenly. I just had to write it. 

 

David: A female killer–this can be done well, or botched completely. As a psychologist/psych instructor, I’m getting strong sociopath vs. psychopath vibes, but neither truly fit. Maeve handles her job well, but the rest? Are you a fan of studying killers, specifically women?

 

CJ: I love hearing you say this. I went through a phase of being obsessed with serial killers when I was younger (did we all?), but to be honest I have trouble sleeping at night sometimes as is, so it’s less my thing these days. But in terms of Maeve’s psychology, I do LOVE books on things like that. The Wisdom of Psychopaths, The Psychopath Test. I find it so fascinating that the same people who might hurt and destroy in the worst ways might also, with a different upbringing or set of circumstances, become our political leaders, surgeons, or corporation heads. If I had to categorize Maeve, I’d say she’s way more of a sociopath as well, but I’m happy to hear you (as the expert!) say she doesn’t totally fit either. While I love all that, I really wanted this book to be about something different, or for her not to be pigeonholed. I had a professor once talking about Joan of Arc and her visions, the fact that she might be diagnosed or categorized as a schizophrenic now. And then he said, but there’s really no difference. We use certain terms to categorize, but either way, she was seeing and speaking with angels and demons. They can both be true. In terms of Maeve, she is who she is. But her loyalty (her own brand of it) is definitely the guiding light.

 

David: I absolutely love the setting (at least for Maeve’s job). What a juxtaposition of character angles, or is it? What prompted you to place her in the happiest place… in Los Angeles?

 

CJ: I’m so glad! I visited the *theme park in Anaheim* one time before writing this book, and it all really just stuck with me. I’ve always liked it, maybe never loved, but never disliked either. But spending time really looking at it and learning about it was so fun. I’m now a big fan! 

 

David: Speaking of L.A., you nailed both the mystique and gritty feel of the city well. What brought you there from New York? What’s the allure, both personally and in writing?

 

CJ: I came here primarily for what was outside the city. I’m a nature girl, and the scale is so much bigger out here. The forests, deserts, mountains, cities, cliffs, and ocean. It’s just all so sprawling and massive and calls to a very strong part of me. But just like the Park, in the process of writing this book, I fell so deeply in love with this city too. It’s so imperfect, so polarizing, and I really love that about it. There’s a lot not to love, but I think that’s a lot of the charm. Also, name a city that does themed bars as well as LA! 

 

David: Other than the titular character, who else stands out as someone you might want to hang with in the novel? 

 

CJ: I mean, maybe the younger cop. We love to see a Halloween lover! And of course, Lester the Cat. 

 

David: Back to basics – how did your writing evolve? Short stories? Disturbing comics? Traumatizing elementary school teachers with twisted doodles?

 

CJ: In my last semester of undergrad I took a creative writing course and realized I loved it. I thought I was going down a different path, but the writing took hold, and I couldn’t let it go. I applied to grad school a few times and then finally got in, and that was where I learned that my writing was really all horror. And it’s all just gone from there! Maeve is the third book I’ve written, and we’ll see if the other two ever see the light of day! 

 

David: What authors lit your creative fire? Which ones currently stoke it?

 

CJ: Ahh so many! Scott Hawkins, Stephen King, Joe Hill, Jean Auel, Anne Rice, Margaret Atwood, Joe Haldeman, Robert Heinlein, Stephen Graham Jones, Grady Hendrix, Nabokov, Emily Bronte, Thomas Harris, Sayaka Murata, Italo Calvino, John Scalzi, Neil Gaiman, Virginia Woolf, Bret Easton Ellis, the list goes on! 

 

David: Favorite novel and why?

 

CJ: OMG I have to pick ONE?! I really can’t! But I do read Library at Mount Char again and again. And also so many others by a lot of the writers I listed above. 

 

David: Are you new to the writing conference scene? If so, are you stoked for Stokercon? It’s a tradition for new authors to buy interviewers/reviewers a drink, by the way. Either that or a book – we’re not picky!

 

CJ: Brand new! Very stoked. Noted on the drink, you’re on! 

 

David: I’ve read you have two more novels set to roll in the future. Is there anything you can tell us about either one?

 

CJ: The second book is unrelated to Maeve but deals with a lot of the same themes in a VERY different setting. Then I am working on two books simultaneously, and I suppose the *powers that be* will decide which of them will come out after that. I’m very, very excited for all of them though. 

 

David: A degree in mythology and middle ages? What’s the chance either will figure into a future novel? Mythology is such a great launching point for characters, creatures, and the heroine’s journey.

 

CJ: Big chance! Outside of Maeve’s world, I’m very interested in writing things leaning more supernatural, historical, scifi, and fantasy within the horror genre. And probably with romance in there most of the time, because why not?! 

 

David: When you’re not gallivanting across the country with the fur plus one family, what are your other passions/hobbies?

 

CJ: I love running and hiking, oddity hunting, reading and learning about anything I can. We do the senior/special rescue dog thing, and occasionally foster as well. I love going to hear live music, and when I can pry myself away from social media (her grasp is strong!), I love flipping back and forth between different languages on duolingo in free moments, just to kind of keep my brain sharp– or try to! But mostly, I’m an outdoor girl, and I like being really physically active. It’s how I do all my best thinking! And I’ve dabbled in MtG too. I always love it but need to get a lot better to play for real!

 

David: Finally, as a writer, I’m asked constantly for advice. As a debut author, what nuggets of dark wisdom would you feed to aspiring writers?

 

CJ: Just write your shit. Don’t worry about the market or what will sell or won’t sell or what will upset your family or your partner or that one person who said that one thing ten years ago that you still think about. Writing and creative expression are the safest spaces that exist. You can decide later if you want to share it or send it out into the world, and most likely the more authentic your work, the more the world will love it anyway! 

 

David: Thanks for answering these! Monster Librarian and our readers thank you plenty!

Wishing you a great year of success with Maeve Fly !

 

Posted on June 21, 2023 by , Reply

Interview: David Simms Interviews S.A. Barnes

S.A. Barnes is the author of the terrific Dead Silence, out earlier this year. Monster Librarian reviewer David Simms had an opportunity to interview her this summer.

 

David: Dead Silence is space horror at its best. What was the inspiration for this novel?

 

S.A.: I’ve been obsessed with the Titanic for as long as I can remember. I pored over the photos from the wreckage when it was found. And I’ve visited several exhibitions of the artifacts that have been recovered. However, I am a big chicken and afraid of small spaces so you’d never get me in submersible to see it in real life. So I brought the wreck to space instead.  

 

David: Claire is an interesting protagonist. Introvert and damaged. Why do you think flawed/broken characters work best for books in this genre?

 

S.A.: I prefer all stories to have a flawed/broken character because I find it more relatable! And I think it gives the character a clearer growth arc.

 

But I think it’s more prominent in horror because the stories often focus on the character’s flaws, specifically creating their worst nightmare. That’s what makes it horror, you know? I’m terrified of birds and small spaces, so forcing me to belly-crawl into a tunnel filled with flapping wings and scaly feet…I’m shuddering right now. But someone else who’s afraid of heights and spiders might not be bothered. It’s about confronting your own dark terrors in the process of growing as a character, I think.

 

David:  The book has been referred to as The Shining meets Titanic. What’s your opinion on this?

 

Haha! That was actually part of my original pitch line for the manuscript, so I guess it must have been seen as accurate enough. I do hear that Aliens or Event Horizpn would have been closer, and both of those were certainly influences as well.

 

David: The Aurora is a memorable character in itself. Can you describe your process in writing this novel?

 

S.A.: Again, Titanic! I wanted to bring to life that contrast of wealth and gross inequity. I wanted the Aurora to be an object of desire, greed, even, but also for the eeriness to be the most prominent feature. Things are frozen in time, as if the Aurora herself is just waiting for new passengers to arrive.  I wanted that feeling of bated breath, the haunted house that seems to react to your presence.

 

David: Since this is a horror novel at heart, are you a big fan of the genre? If so, what are your favorites?

 

S.A.: I love horror. I grew up reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz and V.C. Andrews. As far as favorites, I adored Strangers by Koontz, Flowers in the Attic by Andrews, and I’ve never been able to finish Pet Sematary by King because it scared me too much! More recently, I adored World War Z by Max Brooks, and anything by Mira Grant, particularly Into the Drowning Deep and the Newsflesh trilogy.

 

David: Dead Silence is chilling in its depiction of the supernatural. What’s your take on beliefs in the paranormal, supernatural (super-normal)?

 

S.A.: I’m sort of an open skeptic. I believe it’s all possible, particularly ghosts and extraterrestrial life. However, when presented with evidence, I’m more inclined to doubt first. Mainly, I think, because I don’t want to get my hopes up!

 

I’ve only had one supernatural experience in my life (a ghost turned a light on for me), and that was more than enough for me!  

 

David: You’ve been successful in writing YA fiction. The Paper Dolls trilogy is great. Do you have a preference– adult, or writing for teens/children?

 

S.A.: Thank you! I love telling stories, for any audience! I think, however, teens and high school have changed enough from my own experiences—in mostly good ways—that I would have a harder time writing for that audience now in an authentic way.

 

David: Speaking of horror, you’re also a teacher. Thank you– this year has been full of horrors! How has that experience helped you cope with writing dark fiction– and vice versa?

 

S.A.: The two help me find balance. Writing is a very isolating profession, especially in the last few years! Going to school, working with students, helps me get out of my own head. Plus, helping a student connect with the right book for them is an amazing feeling. But, as you know, schools are not always easy place to work, especially for the last few years, so writing is a way of exerting control over my environment in a way that doesn’t exist otherwise. But mainly they—writing and school—make me feel like I’m contributing in two very different ways, and I love that.

 

David: Adding on to that last question: you tackle mental health in a strong, adroit manner. This is something that’s coming to the surface more and more in horror, but not science fiction. Any thoughts on this topic in fiction?

 

S.A.: I suspect we hope that mental health will be better addressed in coming years, which is why we don’t see it as much in science fiction, which is frequently set in the future. I’m thinking of Star Trek where poverty and world hunger have been solved by the 24th century. Which is wonderful and optimistic.

 

But I find I’m more drawn to stories with characters I relate to, especially when those stories are set in an unfamiliar environment, like space. And I think as long as people are people, we’re still going to struggle with the issues that come along with being human and imperfect. (Once we’re all uploaded consciousnesses on a computer, I make no guarantees!)

 

 

David: Deep space holds many terrors. What do you think is out there? (sorry– massive X-Files fan here!)

 

S.A.: The truth! (Sorry, also a massive X-Files fan!) In all seriousness, I’m fascinated by deep space. I think most of us have a tendency to forget that we’re on this rock, floating out in the middle of nowhere. And we’re one rock of billions. Who knows what we’ll find out there? I hope it will be friendly intelligence, but, as I believe, Stephen Hawking pointed out, anyone who can reach us is probably more advanced than we are and that usually doesn’t end well. Meanwhile we’re just blithely broadcasting our location for anyone—or anything—to hear.

 

David: What’s next for you?

S.A.: I’m working on another sci-fi horror novel! Set on an exo-planet this time.

 

David: Do you have any recommendations for your readers? Any favorite new authors or ones you think your readers would enjoy?

 

S.A.: Oh yes, I loved Dead Space and Salvation Day by Kali Wallace. Salvaged by Madeleine Roux is also excellent.

 

David: Why do you think space horror is such a draw for readers/film buffs?  Do you have a favorite?

 

S.A.: I think it’s a draw because it projects a future in which space has become a relatively normal environment in which to work, suggesting a hopeful outcome, but also that human arrogance, frequently a flaw that comes into play in these stories, is still around. I also think space horror offers the same appeal science fiction does—the chance to learn about our society and its issues at a distance that allows discussion rather than immediate heated emotion.

Posted on August 8, 2022 by , Reply

Vault Review: Crank by Ellen Hopkins (#1 Crank, #2 Glass, #3 Fallout)

Boxed set of the Crank Trilogy by Ellen Hopkins  The Crank Trilogy by Ellen Hopkins (  Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

 

We are revisiting our reviews of the Crank trilogy today, due to a recent challenge to Crank in my own school district (you never REALLY think it will happen in your area until it does).  Yesterday we published an interview of Ellen Hopkins from our vault, which I hope you’ll read. Today, we present our reviews of The Crank Trilogy, consisting of Crank, Glass, and Fallout. 

 

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010 (Reprint edition)

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1416995135

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, audiobook. ( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

 

Crank is Ellen Hopkins’ controversial, and sorely needed, verse novel. Kristina Snow’s life changes forever when her father and the boy she’s crushing introduce her to meth. Unlike Impulse, which is raw and shredding in its emotion, Crank is almost cold at times, brutally showing a girl on the edge of being a woman, who should have the kind of life that discourages drug use, choosing to ride with the monster time after time. Likewise, the people in her life who should be able to step in, fail, leaving Kristina alone to fight a beast that defeats most adults.

 

Crank is a difficult book to handle, but it’s far closer to reality than any drug awareness program I went through in school. Hopkins’ books are strongly positioned to be of great value as fiction, as poetry, and for their educational value, as they boldly strip away pretenses and sensitivities to show addiction as the cruel master it is. Highly recommended for public collections as well as recommended reading material for those whose lives have been scarred by the real life monsters on our streets.

Contains: sex, language, drug use, rape

 

Glass by Ellen Hopkins

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009 (Reprint edition)

ISBN-13: 978-1416940913

Available: New and Used  ( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

 

Glass is the direct follow up to Crank. Glass continues the story of Kristina Snow after she’s had her baby, and kicked meth and nicotine, shortly before her eighteenth birthday. It follows her relapse in her struggle with the meth monster and goes farther than Crank imagined. Sharp and painful,  Glass is hard to read. For one, Kristina seems to not even care that she’s making such horrible mistakes. Almost on autopilot in her quest to fill simple needs, this reader more than once wanted to reach into the lines and try to shake some sense into her.

 

While Crank goes very far to combat drug use as an introductory tale, Glass is Anti-Drug 201, a hardcore look at more of the nasty side effects of addiction, as good as an uncut marathon of Intervention with viewers thrust, uncomfortably, inside Kristina’s head. There’s no doubt it will be too much for many readers, either too brutal, or too close to home. Hopkins savagely slices through any illusions of “normal life” with beautiful poems and style that makes the story she’s telling all the more horrific. Highly recommended.

Contains: sex, drug use, language, domestic violence

 

Reviewed by Michele Lee

 

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010

ISBN-13: 978-1416950097

Available: New and Used  (  Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

 

In Fallout, the third book in the series that started with Crank, centered on meth addict Kristina Snow, Hopkins moves on to show the effect Kristina’s selfish ways still have on her children, and covers a wide spectrum of emotional and psychological problems. Fallout is told through three narrators: Hunter, Kristina’s first child, born of rape and trying to deal with rage; Autumn, who struggles with OCD and turns to alcohol to get her through a major life change; and Summer, who is unaware that she has siblings, and has been raised by a series of abusive foster homes and her own addict father.

 

Fallout is raw, as can be expected from Hopkins, sharp and yet beautiful as well. Hopkins manages to bring new sympathy to the subject, even to characters readers are already familiar with and have started to hate. While the full scope of the story would be missed if readers started the series here, this is the book that will most call to the loved one or friend struggling to support (or justify not supporting) an addict. Highly recommended.

Contains: drug use, sex, language

 

Reviewed by Michele Lee

Posted on August 9, 2021 by , Reply
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